Bangor University has welcomed the announcement that all students starting university in September and studying at least 40 credits through the medium of Welsh, will receive a scholarship of £1,500 over three years.
This follows the announcement by the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol that they are extending its incentive scholarship scheme to include all students starting university in September 2020 who choose to study at least 40 credits through the medium of Welsh. Scholarship holders will receive £500 per year (or £1,500 over three years).
In previous years the Coleg Cymraeg has awarded an incentive scholarship to up to 200 students a year but in response to the Covid-19 crisis, the Coleg has decided to extend the scheme to all qualifying students, targeting at least 500 students who wish to study whatever subject they wish, including the Welsh language and undergraduate Initial Teacher Training courses.
The Coleg hopes that this financial incentive will support more Welsh speakers to choose to study through the medium of Welsh in September and supports universities, who are facing considerable challenges as a result of the crisis, to provide Welsh courses to as many students as possible.
Bangor University already provides additional support to attract more students to study through the medium of Welsh. As part of the drive to increase the numbers selecting to study through the medium of Welsh, Bangor University offers a bursary of £250 a year to those choosing to study more than 40 credits a year through the medium of Welsh.
Professor Andrew Edwards, Pro Vice-Chancellor of Bangor University said: “More credits are studied through the medium of Welsh at Bangor than anywhere else in Wales and it is now possible to study parts of all academic fields here through the medium of Welsh – from a single module to a whole degree.”
Because more students study a significant proportion of their course through the medium of Welsh at Bangor than anywhere else, we have a very vibrant and active community for the students, which makes Bangor an ideal place to study.”
The scheme has received wide support from across the Higher Education sector. Lleucu Myrddin, President of Undeb Myfyrwyr Cymraeg Prifysgol Bangor (Bangor University’s Welsh Students’ Union) said: “It’s excellent to see the Coleg’s commitment to encouraging more students to study through the medium of Welsh and to offer additional Support to universities and students during such uncertain times. I sincerely hope that a good number of young people will take advantage of this special opportunity and of the excellent Welsh language provision available for them.”
The Coleg Cymraeg’s Registrar, Dr Dafydd Trystan said: “In response to the Covid-19 crisis, the Coleg has committed to do everything within its power to support students and universities. It is a pleasure therefore to announce that we are extending the incentive scholarship scheme and we would encourage anyone considering starting a university course in Wales in September to study in Welsh and to apply for a scholarship.”
Welcoming the scheme, Education Minister, Kirsty Williams, said: “It is excellent news that the Coleg will substantially increase its incentive scholarships for students this September, and I’m pleased that this will include undergraduate Initial Teacher Training and Welsh courses. We need many more confident bilingual teachers to address the growth in Welsh-medium education and to support the new curriculum from 2022 onwards.”
For more information and to apply for a scholarship students should visit the Coleg Cymraeg website and complete an application form.
More details on the Welsh Medium Study Bursary offered at Bangor University can be found here:
https://www.bangor.ac.uk/studentfinance/info/welshbursary.php.en
